Corvettes on eBay: Burnt but Still Viable 1957 Corvette Fuelie

Aug 19, 2015

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Corvettes on eBay: Burnt but Still Viable 1957 Corvette Fuelie

‘Tis better than to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all.

That old quotation pops to mind about this 1957 Corvette Fuelie currently being auctioned on eBay.

Just a few months ago, this was a completely restored Corvette, one of just 713 produced with fuel injection that year. It’s also one of just 664 four-speed 1957 Corvettes and has the correct numbers-matching engine.

Then disaster struck, with a dash fire leading to the damage you see in these photos.

Despite the destruction, after three bids, the price has already climbed to $29,101, perhaps a good deal since the seller claims that the car will be worth $100,000 when restored again.

The seller says that the damage was contained to the interior and exterior body panels, with the hood and trunk lid melted beyond repair and thus taken off and thrown away.

Apparently, most of the car remains in good shape, with the doors opening and shutting with good panel fit. The frame was a no-hit, no-rust unit before the fire.

The seat frames and seat springs are fine, as is the drivetrain, including the motor and fuel injection unit. The seller says the motor turns over, but he’s not going to start it.

Meanwhile, the radiator is good and full of antifreeze, while the brake system still works with no leaks. All the chrome was new and remains OK, but the buyer will need to redo the windshield frame. Likewise, the tires are good, and the hubcaps excellent.

This car could well return to the ranks of the $100,000 club with the right amount of tender, loving care. It sounds like a good chance for someone to get into a fuelie without shelling out a lot of money up front. It’ll take some elbow grease, though.

We’d love for the eventual buyer to show us the end results when the restoration is done again.